Question: What are the new paternity rights coming in April 2011?

Answer: Fathers of babies who are due on or after 3 April 2011 can have Additional Paternity Leave, (APL) for a maximum of 26 weeks, if they meet the qualifying criteria and their partner has returned to work. The right to APL is only available to employees and not workers. It is also available to any employee who is married to or the civil partner or partner of the mother or adopting parent. This additional period of leave can be taken at any time between 20 and 52 weeks after childbirth. The employee must give eight weeks notice for APL along with a declaration stating that they are caring for the child. Also the employer should request a declaration from the mother confirming that they are returning to work. Annual leave, sick pay or parental leave will not count as “returning to work”. A: Fathers of babies who are due on or after 3 April 2011 can have Additional Paternity Leave, (APL) for a maximum of 26 weeks, if they meet the qualifying criteria and their partner has returned to work. The right to APL is only available to employees and not workers. It is also available to any employee who is married to or the civil partner or partner of the mother or adopting parent. This additional period of leave can be taken at any time between 20 and 52 weeks after childbirth. The employee must give eight weeks notice for APL along with a declaration stating that they are caring for the child. Also the employer should request a declaration from the mother confirming that they are returning to work. Annual leave, sick pay or parental leave will not count as “returning to work”.

About Steve Young

Steve Young is the Managing Partner of Downtown Recruitment who are based in Thame, Oxfordshire. Downtown Recruitment provide a wide variety of temporary and permanent staff to the local area covering a wide range of disciplines across the commercial and industrial sectors. View Downtown Recruitment's main website